Well, that spot of warm weather didn't last very long, did it? To be perfectly honest; I enjoy cooler weather since it means I can hit up my old standbys. Like these two. I'll keep the post short; cause I've done so many posts on these two places.
Mien Trung:
Ok, I think I have at least a dozen posts on Mien Trung…..going way back to 2006! They seemed to have hit a rough spot for a while; but this last bowl was the best I've had in a while.
The Bun Bo Hue really hit the spot; the broth didn't have too much msg, there was a decent spice, nice lemongrass tones; the noodles were cooked to a perfect slipperiness. And to add to the joy of a nice bowl of bun bo hue; I got little red dots all over my shirt…..oh well, it was definitely worth it.
Mien Trung Restaurant
7530 Mesa College Dr
San Diego, CA 92111
Santouka:
Funny thing; my first visit to Sanoutka when they first opened in San Diego in 2008 was auspicious. But over the years they've righted the ship and is a favorite of the Missus……let me beat that dead horse again; to the point that the Missus just had to visit the flagship shop in Asahikawa…in winter!
The funniest thing to the Missus is; that "even in Japan, Santouka's boiled eggs are terrible…." So there's some consistency for ya'. For us; it the Shio Toroniku style all the way. Rich, hot tonkotsu broth; noodles with a good chewy-crunch to them, pork cheek that tastes great with a short dunk in the broth……
Santouka Ramen
4240 Kearny Mesa Rd(In the Mitsuwa Marketplace)
San Diego, CA 92111
And as a little bonus:
So, I was cleaning out some old photos, deleting most of them; when I came by a couple of oldies, but goodies…..places that are gone but not forgotten, at least by me.
So, can you guess the first two?
That's an easy one, right?
Here's a place that didn't last very long; but I really enjoyed……..
Boy do I miss this place…..
Now here's one that lasted for even a shorter time….but man, we really enjoyed the place when it was around.
Did you get all three???
Happy Monday everyone!
Yeah I hate the Santouka egg too. It’s especially surprising for the flagship restaurant in japan, where literally every other ramen shop knows how to cook a perfect ramen egg. I can imagine a former cook at Ichiran getting hired to work at Santouka, and on the first day the conversation goes:
“Ok, to make the eggs, boil them for 20 min“
“Uhhhh… did you really say 20? Shouldn’t you do 6 min?”
“No no no, we like to boil ours for 20, our customers enjoy a chalky powdery yolk”
“Uhhhh… are you sure? Most folks like a smooth creamy yolk”
“No no no no, chalky powdery yolk is the way to go…”
Oh man – those pictures are a tease and make me hungry for the old days! 1st set is Ba Ren and regardless of my efforts at home and riffing on your recipe I can’t seem to emulate their cold noodle. I feel like there’s an X-factor ingredient I’m missing…
Via #2 – I can’t think of the name but it’s the pork gyro in PB where pop’s cheesesteaks used to me. It’s funny, I was talking to my chiropractor (who is also in PB) about that place last week – it used to be one of his favorites.
Thanks for sharing the pictures/memories =)
Lol Jason……I know; that tamago is terrible.
Hi Derek – Yes, it’s Zgara….or was Zgara in PB. Man, I miss that place. As for the Sichuan Liang Mian, I think it might be the MSG and also the Sichuan Peppercorn oil. I’m going to start making it again when the weather gets warmer and see if I can amp up the recipe a bit. Hope all is well! And yes, I can’t get my recipe to match Ba Ren’s either.
I too am puzzled by the egg at Santouka. Nobody likes it. I tried them in Japan also and it was the same. Must be how the owner likes his eggs.
I guess those eggs get a pretty much a unanimous thumbs down Junichi! Or….great minds think alike…. ;o)
Soup aka red dots on shirt weather👍❤️
A badge of honor RD! ;o)
Ahhh, I miss Ba Ren!
We do too CC!
bummer about the egg
At they’re consistent Kat! ;o)